Student visa requirements in the US

Applying for a US student visa? Here’s help!

The US Government provides an opportunity to all Indian students to study in the country but as a prerequisite, you’ll have to obtain a student visa first. The visa you need will depend on your age and the type of study you wish to pursue in the US. Here’s an overview* of the types of study visas and their application requirements:

The US Government offers three different student visa types:

S.No.

Types of student visa

Description

1

F-1 Student Visa

to study at an accredited US college or university or to study English at an English language institute

2

J Exchange Visa

for participation in an exchange program, including high school and university study

As a primary step, you must first apply and be accepted by a US school or university that is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Once accepted, you will receive a Form I-20 from the institution's international student office, which is a paper record of your information in the database called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Documents required for a US student visa

When applying for your student visa for the US, you will generally need:

A valid passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the US (unless exempt by country specific agreements)

Academic preparation documents such as transcripts, diplomas, degrees or certificates

Evidence that you have sufficient funds to maintain your living expenses throughout the period of your stay in the US. This may include:

Bank statements

Financial undertaking by a sponsor to cover your accommodation and living costs

A scholarship program

Evidence that you will leave the US once you have completed your course of study. This can be in the form of an air ticket out of the US to your home country

You may also have to appear for a personal interview at the US embassy or consulate.

*Please note that these are the basic requirements, speak with your IDP counsellor for a detailed list of documents required for visa processing

F-1 Student visa

Most students who wish to pursue their studies overseas opt for the F-1 Student Visa. There are three major steps to its procedure, being:

Step 1

SEVIS fee and I-20 form collection

Once you pay the SEVIS fee, you are given an I-20 form from your new school or college. Duly fill the form and bring along for your F-1 interview.

Step 2

VISA fee and form collection

Pay your visa fee at the designated bank and collect the visa form. Duly fill the form and bring along for your interview.

Step 3

VISA interview

Schedule a visa interview with the US embassy in your country. The waiting time may vary depending on the visa type. Once you complete the interview successfully, you’ll receive your visa 120 days in advance.

P.S: You can move to the US only 30 days before the start date of your program.

Applying for your visa online

You’ll have to apply for your student visa application online using the US Embassy and Consulates India website. You can apply up to 120 days before your intended date of program’s start date. Remember, your application date is the date when your application fee is paid.

How can we help with visa applications?

If you’re an IDP student with an offer letter from any of our partner institutions in the US, we can advise you on how to go about the entire process. We’ll make sure you are fully informed on the latest visa requirements and conditions; and also help you prepare the right documents for your submission.

Our team will direct you to the official websites and to authorised immigration representatives to ensure you have the latest applications forms and guidance. In fact, to reduce the hassle, we can also help with certifying, translating and couriering your documents.

Visa fee

As an applicant from outside the US, you will have to pay US$160 as your visa fee (do check the latest fee when applying here).

English language requirements

To gain your US student visa, you’ll have to provide with an evidence of proficiency in the English language. This usually means passing a secure English language test to be able to prove your communication and correspondence skills.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (link to what is IELTS) is the world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test for study, work and migration, with more than three million tests taken in the past year. The IELTS results are recognised by more than 10,000 organisations, including educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments, in 140 countries around the world.

When you first arrive in the US, you must:

Contact your designated school official on a priority basis

Contact your designated school official again, no later than the program start date listed on your Form I-20

Making sure your visa remains valid

Once you get your visa, there are a number of things you need to do to ensure it remains valid, including:

Fulfilling the purpose for why the Department of State issued the visa

Following the regulations associated with that purpose

While studying in the US, you will need to observe the following rules:

You must attend and pass all of your classes. If you are finding your studies too difficult, you should speak with your designated school official (DSO) immediately

If you think you will be unable to complete your program by the end date listed on your Form I-20, you must talk to your DSO about requesting a possible program extension

You must take a full course of study each term. If you cannot study full-time, contact your DSO immediately

You cannot drop below a full course of study without consulting with your DSO

You can always come to us for a free counselling session where we can guide you on how to go about the entire visa application process.

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